Gazette fileThe Rickman House at 345 North Burdick St. is operated by Housing Resources, Inc. HRI's mission is to assure housing for socially or economically vulnerable residents of Kalamazoo County. Michelle Davis, formerly of the United Way of Greater Toledo, will replace departing HRI director Ellen Kisinger-Rothi.

Michelle Davis, former vice president of the United Way of Greater Toledo, will replace Kisinger-Rothi and has been working at HRI for a couple of weeks, said Sabrina Pritchett-Evans, president of the HRI Board of Directors.

"We are very, very excited to have her in Kalamazoo because she comes with a ton of experience with the homeless," Pritchett-Evans said of Davis.

Pritchett-Evans said Davis' background with United Way also helps HRI because the organization is partially funded by United Way.

HRI and Kisinger-Rothi announced her retirement Friday morning. Kisinger-Rothi said she will work as a consultant for housing organizations upon retirement.

Ellen Kisinger-RothKisinger-Rothi has been working with Davis on the transition. Pritchett-Evans said a selection committee worked with a recruiter to find Kisinger-Rothi's replacement and picked Davis from two finalists.

The change is a milestone for Kisinger-Rothi and HRI. Kisinger-Rothi was nearing her 30th year as executive director.

"It's just kind of hard," Pritchett-Evans said of Kisinger-Rothi's retirement. "She grew up with the organization and I've been on the board for 17 years now. It's like HRI is Ellen and Ellen is HRI."

The Kalamazoo nonprofit agency will create the Ellen Kisinger-Rothi Fund to ensure "financial resources are available to cure an eviction, secure an affordable unit or maintain an affordable housing unit for low-income families and individuals in Kalamazoo County," according to an HRI news release.

The fund will help HRI meet its goal of raising $1 million annually to prevent or resolve homelessness in the community, including providing back rent to prevent evictions and providing a security deposits and providing monthly rent to HRI clients who need it.

Davis was not immediately available for comment Friday.

Emily Monacelli is a local government reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact her at emonacel@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter.